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Kahit may boyfriend si Rhian Ramos, ang businessman-congressman si Sam Verzosa, ay tila mas intresado ang entertainment press na ungkatin ang special friendship nila ni newly-crowned Miss Universe-PH na si Michelle Dee.
Hindi naman kasi nila inilihim sa publiko na mag-housemates sila. At dahil matagal na ring may bulung-bulungan tungkol sa tunay na sexual identity ni Michelle—na recently nga lang ay nag-out na bilang bisexual—kaya't pilit silang isini-ship ng fans na naku-kyutan sa kanilang setup.
Actually, even Rhian for her part, ay madalas ding mapaghinalaang lesbiyana, lalo na noong tanggapin niya ang LGBT-themed teleserye na The Rich Man's Daughter noong 2015 opposite Glaiza de Castro. In fact, sa husay ng kanilang paggganap bilang lovers, maski sila ni Glaiza ay na-link din that time.
At this point, sanay na si Rhian na nali-link sa kapwa niya babae. Pero dahil sigurado naman daw siya sa sarili niya na babaeng-babae siya kaya she remains unbothered.
"Hindi naman ako nag-worry kasi parang siguro sanay na din ako that people have misconceptions all the time and it doesn’t really naman bother me," panimulang tsika niya a amin after ng Royal Blood formal press conference.
"I think, just as long as the people that I’m very close to know who I am then I don’t really worry," patuloy niya. "Parang normal naman in showbiz to have misconceptions. And besides, I already did a show were mag-partner kami ni Glaiza [de Castro], sa Rich Man's Daughter. So, even if I never met Michelle, pinaghihinalaan na ako matagal na. And it's okay."
Pero dahil nga sa housemates set-up nila ni Michelle Dee, kung kaya't hindi napapatid ang bulungan tungkol sa kanila.
"Actually, even before pa naman, starting two years ago marami na kaming shippers [ni Michelle], marami nang nagta-tag sa aming dalawa, nae-edit 'yong mga videos namin and with very romantic music playing and everything.
"We found it funny and cute because ayon nga dahil sa totoong buhay...because we live together, it's like, 'Oh my God, parang mag asawa na tayo.' Parang ganu'n. That's why wifey nga and honey ang aming tawagan but yeah I’m sorry to disappoint everyone hanggang ship na lang talaga yan but she’s a wonderful girl and I’m just happy that everyone is tagging us and supporting her.
In truth, never pa nga raw siyang siyang napormahan o napagparamdaman ng sinumang lesbiyana.
"So, kung may kilala kayo...hahaha!" biro pa niya.
Ani Rhian, hindi na raw kinailangang mag-out ni Michelle sa kanya, o sa grupo nilang magkakaibigan (which also includes Max Collins and video creator Janina Manipon).
"Actually from the moment I met her, I already knew," rebelasyon n'ya. "I can’t remember if it was just parang we were having casual conversation tapos naintindinhan ko sa context...we never had like a serious talk where she sat me down and say, 'Hey, listen...' Parang ever since I met her, we just kind of... it's like a casual understanding."
And even when she knew, Michelle's sexual identity never bothered her, too. Ang special friendship daw na meron sila ngayon ay beyond attraction. Kaya never niyang naisip na baka mataypan siya nito.
"You know what, I think what me and Michelle have as bestfriends is something more special pa nga, e, than having a romantic relationship. I really feel like I can depend on her for everything and that life can change in many ways for us but I found real friendship with her and in some ways, we're really a team."
WIFEY and HONEY
Nagsimula silang ma-link ni Michelle when they started living together. At sa kanya raw na simula ang idea na maging mag-housemates sila.
"Living with a friend is something that I wanted to do matagal na," balik-tanaw ni Rhian. "It's just I really never had the opportunity until Covid happened... that I had to move away from my family kasi ayaw ko nga isipin na baka mai-uwi ko 'yong virus sa kanila or whatever.
"So, mag-isa na ako eversince and during Covid [pandemic] kami naging close [ni Michelle]. Doon ko nabangit na parang...kasi sa apartment ako noon, e. Sabi ko, parang it's nice pa rin to live in a house kasi may parking ka, may mga extra kang room kung kailangan...kasi in the apartment, mag-isa lang talaga ako and bumalik na 'yong work, kailangan ko na ng tulong. Hindi na p'wdeng ako 'yong gumagawa ng lahat, ako naglo-laundry, ako nagda-drive...parang ganu'n.
"So, ayon when I floated that idea, game din siya. And then it became very easy. Parang napaka-casual kung paano nangyari. 'Tayo na lang [mag-housemates].' 'Oo nga ano, oo nga ano?' Tapos may isa kaming friend na nakatira din sa village na ito. 'Doon tayo malapit kay Janina.' Ganu'n lang. Then, naghanap na kami ng bahay kaagad."
Nang malaman ng mga fans na sumusubaybay sa friendship nila ang tungkol dito, mas lalo silang na-ship ni Michelle—na todo naman nilang sinakyan. Thus, naging "wifey" at "honey" na ang kanilang tawagan.
"When we started living together na kasi parang nag-a-update-an kami when we get home. If someone's home and then pauwi na 'yong isa, whenever we open the door sumisigaw kami sa bahay, 'Honey, I’m home!' Kasi 'yon 'yong nakikita namin sa movies. 'Honey, I’m home.' And then after that, doon namin na-realize, 'LOL, parang mag-asawa na tayo.' Hahaha!"
And Rhian is proud to say na sa ilang taon nilang pagsasama sa bahay, never pa raw silang nag-away at all. House rent, expenses, and chores never became problems daw sa kanila.
"It's teamwork," aniya. "We're 50-50 in everything. And there has been times na let's say I’m super busy, she’d cover it. And then saka na [babayaran]. And then when she’s super busy, I’ll cover it, tapos saka na...saka na namin pag-uusapan 'yong mga ganu'n. But alam mo 'yon? I live with someone who is like a support system and so does she. I’m her support system.
"Never pa kami nag-aaway," patuloy niya. "We'd like to say the only time we fight is when we fight over the bill. 'Akin na yan, ako na, ako na.' Kasi the both of us, parehas yata 'yong love language namin na parehas kaming very... we like to be of service. So, nag-uunahan kami usually to do things for each other or for the house or for us. Hindi na kami naghihintay na ikaw ang gumawa nito."
Wala rin daw issue sa boyfriend niyang si Sam na magsama pa rin sila sa isang bahay dahil aware na rin daw ito sa sexual identity ni Michelle noon pa man.
"Best friend ko 'yon," patukoy nya kay Michelle. "Alam naman din n'ya naman bago pa mag-out. Hndi naman n'ya first time na nalaman 'yon.
"So, no, he never felt insecured or threatened by Michelle. In fact, wala. He knows that she’s my best friend along with Max and Janina. Of course, he knows that we're all in the group and we all love each other. And he's happy that I found people in my life to be that kind of support for me."
Si Rhian ay mapapanood sa bagong primetime series ng GMA-7, ang Royal Blood, where she plays as the mysterious, snake-loving half-sibling of Dingdong Dantes. Royal Blood will premiere on GMA-7, this Monday evening, June 19.
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